The Speer Family papers represent four generations of that family, with the bulk of material attributed to the last two generations, especially Robert Elliott Speer and his wife and three of his five children: Emma Bailey, Elliott, Margaret Bailey, and William Speer. The family was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving that institution in a variety of different capacities. The children, in addition to their religious roles, held prominent positions in academic administration. The family's papers primarily consist of the personal papers of the family, although they also contain the professional correspondence of Emma Bailey and Margaret Bailey Speer, both Bryn Mawr College alumnae. This collection, which dates from 1802 to 1982, contains letters, diaries, speeches, publications, awards, and photographs, although the vast majority of the material is the letters between family members.
Lucy Evans Chew graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1918. Shortly after her graduation, she married Samuel Chew, an English professor at Bryn Mawr. For the majority of their married life, the Chews remained in the area surrounding Bryn Mawr. The Lucy Evans Chew Collection is primarily comprised of 58 volumes of her diaries from the years from 1920 to 1968. The diaries include descriptions of her daily life, her association with the college, her travels, and her reflections on her life.